Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $346 in Wah versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $540 in Wah versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $735 in Wah versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Wah costs roughly 29% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wah 74% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 481

$2.06 PKR 572

-16.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,994

$12.56 PKR 3,487

-14.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 PKR 965

$3.99 PKR 1,108

-12.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 772

$1.93 PKR 537

44.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-10.44%

Cappuccino

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.81 PKR 502

-29.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.33 PKR 92.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.21 PKR 58.0

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 208

$0.79 PKR 220

-5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.58 PKR 161

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PKR 349

$1.18 PKR 328

6.78%

Eggs

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.15 PKR 321

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,711

$6.41 PKR 1,781

-3.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 740

$3.12 PKR 867

-14.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.21 PKR 891

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-36.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 284

$1.03 PKR 286

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.60 PKR 166

-1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.92 PKR 257

-31.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.57 PKR 159

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.35 PKR 98.2

8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.50 PKR 140

2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.36 PKR 99.8

63.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.41 PKR 113

-4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.25 PKR 346

-21.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PKR 200

$1.32 PKR 367

-45.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 566

$2.06 PKR 572

-0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 507

$2.16 PKR 599

-15.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.8

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 PKR 1,994

$6.43 PKR 1,785

11.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 300

$0.74 PKR 206

45.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.61 PKR 170

-27.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.74 PKR 484

0.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.94 PKR 261

4.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K PKR 6.2M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

32.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-14.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.4 PKR 15.9K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-57.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.83 PKR 1,063

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-23.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.99 PKR 3,607

$13.28 PKR 3,689

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,456

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-21.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 PKR 1,624

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-59.23%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 PKR 994

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-17.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$27.98 PKR 7,769

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-52.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,141 PKR 316.8K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

-15.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.17 PKR 4,491

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.93 PKR 6,090

$25.79 PKR 7,162

-14.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 PKR 17.0K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-4.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.77 PKR 7,154

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-28.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$118 PKR 32.8K

-36.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-29.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$319 PKR 88.6K

-47.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-41.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 PKR 270.5K

$932 PKR 258.7K

4.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$417 PKR 115.8K

$433 PKR 120.3K

-3.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

1.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Wah: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.3 in Wah and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Wah vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $88.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Wah cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Wah vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wah and Karachi differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($346 vs $484 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $519 in Wah and $726 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.3 in Wah versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $346 per month in Wah versus $484 in Karachi – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Wah runs roughly 12% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Wah and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.